The Last Best Hope

Star Trek: Picard #1

by Una McCormack

An original novel based on the new Star Trek TV series!

A thrilling novel leading into the new CBS series, Una McCormack’s The Last Best Hope introduces you to brand new characters featured in the life of beloved Star Trek captain Jean-Luc Picard—widely considered to be one of the most popular and recognizable characters in all of science fiction.

Genres: Star Trek, Science Fiction, Fiction, Audiobook, Media Tie In, Ebooks, Space

326 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 11, 2020

About the author

Una McCormack is a British writer and the author of several Star Trek novels and stories.

Ms. McCormack is a New York Times bestselling author. She has written four Doctor Who novels: The King's Dragon and The Way through the Woods (featuring the Eleventh Doctor, Amy, and Rory); Royal Blood (featuring the Twelfth Doctor and Clara), and Molten Heart (featuring the Thirteenth Doctor, Yaz, Ryan and Graham). She is also the author of numerous audio dramas for Big Finish Productions.

Reviews

[Alejandro · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good companion to Star Trek: Picard - First Season


A MISSION OF MERCY... THAT NOBODY WANTS TO DO

This is a tie-in novel for the current (March 2020) Star Trek: Picard TV series, setting while he was leading the mercy mission to take Romulan Empire's refugees to planets out of the incoming Romulus' Sun going into supernova.

You can read about the troubles in both sides of politics that Picard has to face since not only from the Federation, there are many people against to give so many resources to this situation, since also powers from the Romulan Star Empire are struggling to this event.

You can read too about why and how the Synths risen in the Federation a much needed workforce.

The only thing that I was sad that I couldn't read was about the Artifact project, since that was what I was most interested to know about.

However, this novel is still a fair good reading if you are looking for some insight in the background of the new streaming series.

[Gerhard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pity the poor writer who gets commissioned to write a prequel novel to one of the most anticipated television series in the history of science fiction. Also pity the poor viewers in that both a prequel novel and a comic were deemed necessary by the powers that be in order to cushion the future-shock induced by the first episode of Star Trek: Picard. (Except that both were only released when the show was already well underway, as I understand it; I read the book only after I had watched episode 4, ‘Absolute Candour’.)

Indeed, when I watched episode 1, ‘Remembrance’, it felt as if I had somehow skipped an entire iteration of Star Trek. It was really disconcerting and head-scratching. Well, having Picard on a chateau with a dog called Number One was pretty cute, but WTF had happened to the Romulan Empire in the meantime, and why had the Federation undergone its own version of the Butlerian Jihad from Dune?

In the grand tradition of television SF tie-in novels, The Last Best Hope by Una McCormack does not really provide any new information, or attempt to even answer any of the looming background questions that seem to prevent Picard from becoming a fully-realised Star Trek show. What it does do very well is flesh out some of the detail of Picard’s last desperate mission, and the fallout that ended up with him ruminating on the grape harvest on his idyllic wine farm.

While the Star Trek: Discovery tie-in novels have been rather hit-and-miss, The Last Best Hope on the other hand is distinguished by being really well-written. McCormack has a deft hand at characterisation, and there are some beautiful grace notes here that bring the story alive (and a couple of surprise cameos, one of which is so brief it feels like a shoe-in more than a homage). Both Picard and Rafi are lovingly brought to life on the page, and their relationship is really wonderful to see unfold.

I also loved the way that McCormack teases out the implications of the cosmic disaster that befalls the Romulans, and the cracks that the Starfleet rescue mission inadvertently causes in the very fabric of the Federation. When the periphery worlds begin to chafe at the top-down heavy-handedness of the Big Four, and the word ‘secession’ enters the fray, one cannot help but think of this being a Star Trek version of Brexit.

Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of the novel (which is cleverly divided into three sections, ‘The Hope’, ‘The Best’ and ‘The Last’) is the Qowat Milat, the Romulan warrior nuns and their protection of a mysterious boy called Elnor. Again, I was reminded of the Bene Gesserit from Dune. Unfortunately, the weakest part for me was the relationship between Maddox and his doctoral student, which reads like something out of a Philip Roth novel, only involving ‘fractal neuronic cloning’. We really do not find out what happens on Mars at all, in the end, which is a tad frustrating.

I’m not sure if this is intentional in the book, but there is an implied suggestion that the Romulan sun going nova is not a natural event. The reader is unsure whether or not either, or both, the Federation and Romulan Empire know more about this than they may be letting on. Given it is no secret that the Borg are back in Picard, could this be part of some larger end game?

All in all, a great Star Trek novel, and a really good SF one as well. It is a hard balance to strike sometimes, but McCormack really nails this one. Her writing is natural and nuanced, and while the plot is admittedly skimpy, she uses this as an opportunity to give all her characters their time in the sun.

[Anissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third season of Picard is about to begin so I decided I needed to go back to before Season 1 and read this. I enjoyed this story of what happened with the Romulan evacuation that led to where we meet him at the beginning of Season 1. I hadn't expected Geordi to figure in so much and really enjoyed his part. I also enjoyed the logistics, political and public relations aspects of the central problem as well. This very well filled in things I didn't know or only heard mentioned while watching Season 1. I'll likely read the next two books in this series. I do wish there were novelizations of each of the actual seasons of the show but maybe one day.

Recommended.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a TV Star Trek fan. So I decided to give the audiobook a try. The book is well written and the pace is fast. It was fun to discover all the new Star Fleet characters; particularly interesting was Picard’s new XO. But somethings are the same such as the Romulans’ distrust of the Federation. Overall, the story was interesting and an exciting read. This is my first experience with this author. I was unaware a new TV series is starting.

I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. Robert Petkoff does a good job narrating the story. Petkoff is and actor and audiobook narrator. He has won the Audie Award and multiple EarPhone Awards.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/ 2 stars
Good science fiction is relevant to the world we live in, it has something to say about the world. Star Trek has always been like this, a way to see a better version of ourselves. An Iowan, a Russian, a Women, an African American woman, an Alien, all hold positions of power and work together.
This book has everything relevant to today, power hungry politicians, fake news/disinformation, xenophobia, immigration. The reason to help an alien enemy, because they are people.
My only issue is that I should have read this book before starting to watch the series. I didn’t because I was afraid that the book had spoilers for the show, in reality the show has spoilers for the book. That said I so glad I read it, things that were mentioned in the series are fleshed out here.

[Daniel Kukwa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The intensity of this book made me stay up for hours reading this, rather than go to bed. As a prequel to the new TV series, this is razor-focused. However, I can't bring myself to give this a 5 star rating for the simple reason that this isn't anywhere near adequate. This should have been twice the length. There should have been scenes on Romulus as the apocalypse approaches; there should have been more reaction shown within the Federation, and the rest of the Alpha Quadrant. There should have been more fallout with the Enterprise crew. There should have been...MORE. What we get here is electric, but it's just the tip of the iceberg, and the TV series can't possibly touch it all in retrospect. It's a lost opportunity, and it saddens me. This could have been Tolsty-epic-level-Trek.

[Cathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am very disappointed. I wonder if I had enjoyed this, if I hadn‘t seen the new series already. As it was, I found this very boring. The plot held no suspense for me. This was a drag.

There is a lot of talk, weak character development and little to no action. It doesn‘t help that I found the TV series to be mediocre at best, regardless of the nostalgia I was experiencing (seeing Patrick Steward back in this beloved role) and that I did not really like Raffi Musiker or Agnes Jurati much.

The story itself is episodic, talking about rescue efforts on various planets. The climax about Mars is tacked to the end without much build-up and is pretty short. Jean-Luc‘s fate in the aftermath is dealt with very briefly.

I am stumped about this utterly boring book. My main issue: there is a lot of planning and talking about things, but you get to experience very little of anything. This book actually (almost) managed something I had never expected to happen: It made me dislike Picard and think of him as a pompous, self-centered ass.

The only part I enjoyed in this: The audiobook narrator. At first I was a little disappointed that Patrick Stewart does not narrate this himself. The actual narrator, Robert Petkoff, does a pretty decent job of sounding like Stewart and also giving distinct personalities to the other characters. He also does a decent Leonard Nimoy imitation.

I personally can not recommend this book. However, lots of people liked it. So you will have to decide for yourself. If you want a positive voice, look at this review:
https://trekmovie.com/2020/02/25/revi...

Something by the author herself:

“On the occasion of The Last Best Hope, the first novel associated with the Star Trek: Picard television series, author Una McCormack muses on Star Trek, the future it imagines, the present we live in today… and how it all comes together.“
https://whatever.scalzi.com/2020/02/1...

Another interesting review, including the comments thread:

http://blog.trekcore.com/2020/02/revi...

It had never occurred to me, how absurd the supernova plot actually is. So much for believable SF and how gullible I am apparently. Anyway, I greatly enjoyed the 2009 Star Trek movie and I am still sad that this particular branch of Star Trek seems to have ground to a halt, especially considering that ST Discovery did not really do it for me.

[Lata · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally enjoyed this. Una McCormack's Picard characterization felt spot-on, and I really liked how this story covers the mammoth task of dealing the soon-to-go nova Romulan star, and the ensuing refugee crisis, as well as accompanying stresses within the Federation and misinformation in the Romulan system.
I loved how McCormack showed the transformation within the Federation from initial concern to the slow pivot away from the whole situation and the eventual death of billions. That Picard would behave how he did throughout the crisis was totally in character.
I've not seen the show yet, so the character who was a lovely surprise for me was Raffi Musiker. Her dedication, as well as her easy relationship with Picard played out wonderfully through the crisis.
This was a really good story, and I loved the characters, the commentary about many present day concerns (refugees, the environment, compassion, misinformation and the consequent manipulation of a populace's emotions and interests, and political wrangling at the expense of compassion). As I already said, I totally loved this story.

[DivaDiane SM · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 starts rounded up.

I haven’t read many Star Trek novels, but I’ve watched nearly everything (with the exception of Enterprise and large chunks of DS9) and of course I just recently watched ST:Picard and enjoyed it very much.

I enjoyed this backstory very much. I listened to it, and the narrator (Robert Petkoff) was just excellent. Una McCormick and he captured Patrick Stewart and Levar Burton’s speech patterns so well, it was like they were doing the narration themselves. Petkoff did several different voices and accents effortlessly and this is why I rounded up. If I had been disappointed by anything I might have rounded down, but I wasn’t. It was the perfect book at the moment. I wish I could’ve listened to it more often and more consistently, but the COVID-19 lockdown has made listening time come at a premium.

This was a solid offering that filled in details that the series makes you wonder about. There’s not much that is truly moving or earth shattering. But it was all profoundly comforting to someone who loves StarTrek and needed some balm for the soul.

[Fábio Fernandes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is, IMO, hands down the best Star Trek novel I've read. And I've read plenty. I love the realistic (for ST standards, that is) description of politics and logistics. It's a prequel for the TV series Star Trek: Picard, but maybe you can appreciate it better if, like I did, you start to read it at least after the third (or fourth) episode.

[Mareike · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a 3.5 rounded up. I think.

It's a good read and fleshes out the background for the TV show. But it never touched me emotionally as much as I wanted it to. Not to mention that some of the characters I really want to know more about don't appear at all. Which makes sense for the book as it is.
I'll just be over here waiting for someone to write me a novel about (spoilers for the show, not this book) Seven of Nine, Hugh and the xBs. Also a whole separate novel (or three) about the Qowat Milat, please.

[Mogsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2020/03/17/...

Confession: I haven’t started watching the new Star Trek: Picard TV series yet. I’m a big Star Trek fan, but I mustered up all the self-restraint I had and held off after being alerted that I would be receiving a review copy of The Last Best Hope, for the same finicky reasons I read Star Wars: Catalyst before watching Rogue One or Durotan by Christie Golden before the Warcraft movie. I’m something of a media tie-in addict, and prequel novels are particularly irresistible to me. While these books rarely add anything critical to the plotline for those who don’t read them, I nevertheless appreciate the way they flesh out the stories and provide background information.

From what I’ve seen though, having this novel under your belt before watching the show actually sounds quite helpful. Covering the period between the discovery of the Romulan supernova to the start of Star Trek: Picard, The Last Best Hope gives the backstory for the major players like Jean Luc Picard, Raffi Musiker, Bruce Maddox and others, chronicling the events surrounding the Romulan evacuation and the fallout which ultimately led to the resignation of the titular character from his beloved Starfleet.

As the story begins, Picard is promoted to Admiral and given the enormous, arguably impossible task of overseeing the transport and relocation of Romulan refugees before their planet is swallowed up by an exploding star. Not only is time running out, the demands of such a monumental mission is going to cost a lot in terms of funds and manpower—neither of which the Federation really has enough to give. Resources will have to be siphoned from already struggling worlds, leading to dissatisfaction from those community leaders as well as scientists who are upset that their own research will be put on hold, not to mention the general skepticism from certain corners expressing concern over helping a former enemy. To make matters worse, the Romulans are a proud people who don’t always seem to appreciate the Federation’s offer of goodwill. Already, there have been many cases of deliberate miscommunication and cultural clashes.

First off, let me say that I’m a big fan of Una McCormack’s work. She is no stranger to media tie-ins, having written novels for Star Trek in the past as well as Doctor Who, which I have enjoyed. She’s indubitably the right person to tap for The Last Best Hope, with her ability to convey the solemnity and emotional impact behind a lot of the events in this book. She also has a talent for exploring the human side of things with a focus on individual character motivations and their interpersonal relationships, all of which are important to the understanding the story’s subjects and themes. As a franchise, Star Trek has always drawn on real-world issues and topical matters in our society for inspiration, and this novel is no different. Just as you’d expect, it’s complicated. Nothing is ever black and white, and sometimes there simply aren’t clear solutions to the questions asked.

That, in essence, is what I think makes this book so fascinating. The author presents the situation from all sides, and whether or not you agree with the any of the characters involved, each point-of-view is a fully realized and sympathetic position. I’ve read a great many media tie-in novels in my years as a reviewer, and The Last Best Hope might be one of the deeper, more thought-provoking ones I’ve come across. It’s also a bit heartbreaking. If you have even the slightest inkling of the premise behind Star Trek: Picard, you already know the character and Starfleet had parted ways for reasons never made public by either party. The circumstances behind that split are revealed at the end of this book, not sparing any of the painful and unpleasant details, so in some ways, knowing that it’s coming made this one a heavy read from the start.

Still, I imagine that’s where the show will come in, an uplifting force to counteract the gloom, hence why I am doubly glad I decided to read this before watching the series. While The Last Best Hope reads perfectly fine as a standalone, I have no doubt it will also make the experience of watching Star Trek: Picard feel fuller and more rewarding. You will also get the backstories for a lot of the key characters, which is personally the biggest motivator for me to pick up any tie-in novel. Bottom line, if you’re a fan of the show, I would highly recommend picking this up to complement the experience.

[Sam · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointed. A time filler that goes nowhere. Apparently now ST no longer takes place in an utopian society, and swear words are edgy and cool. I guess a peaceful future is too hard to write anymore. Also the science doesn't jive with the science used before. World building requires consistency, fans notice the absence. This author has written excellent tie-ins before but I guess this one was too hard given corporate restraints of ignoring all previous book, comic, TV, and movie series timelines BUT without really introducing anything new and obligating the new series. So in this book you won’t learn any essential details and it provides little added depth.

BTW it has an anti-anti-refugee voice that will likely piss off Trump supporters and to them I say ^@#$ you! See I can be edgy and cool too but then we obviously don’t live in an utopian society either but unlike them I know we can achieve one, if we really wanted it.

"If you could look at desperate people, refugees who were fleeing their homes and could never return, and simply turn away, then there was, in La Forge’s opinion, something not quite right about you."

I stopped outside a church house where the citizens like to sit
They say they want the kingdom
But they don't want God in it 
- “The Wanderer” Johnny Cash & U2

[Tim Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, as devastated as I am by this book, it probably deserves 5 stars... I just don't have the heart.

Extremely well written and true to the characters... if you lived TNG... heck, or know what this stands for... prepare yourself. But read this book. There is nothing better than getting in Picards head through a writer that cares. Well done Una.

[Zachary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gene Roddenberry decided sometime in the 70s that the Federation from his TV show Star Trek was a utopia and that humans had achieved a level of enlightenment that allowed them to conquer the great ills of the world, hunger, war, environmental damage, etc... and when he relaunched Star Trek as Star Trek: The Next Generation he insisted on putting forward that vision in the new show. And the writers hated it. Utopias and enlightened human beings are hard to write for. But Roddenberry insisted and after him Rick Berman held the line. JJ Abrams was making movies, so it was easy enough for him to side step the issue. But now CBS is making Star Trek for TV again, which means the Federation as Utopia concept is once again at issue. And it looks like the writers are going to win finally. The new Star Trek Picard TV show is pretty good television. It's got some interesting ideas to play with and, of course, a great cast. But at the heart of it is a rebuttal of Roddenberry's vision. The Federation let billions die because they were selfish and fearful. That's no utopia.

The Last Best Hope exists to expand on that failure. As a novel its got a lot going for it. It asks, "How does one help in an apocalypse?" And it fleshes out some of the more underwritten parts of the TV series (mainly Musiker, but also the origin of the synths). And it's all handled by Una McCormack, who is a rock solid writer. It's a good book. But it's also kind of a drag, because so much of it is about tearing down one of the most inspiring visions of humanity's future in all of science fiction. Picard is the living embodiment of Roddenberry's vision in this book and often he comes off as deluded and foolish. I have very mixed feelings about this direction for the franchise. What makes Star Trek unique without Roddenberry's vision? Cynical space stories are a dime a dozen. "Human aren't perfect" isn't exactly a fresh take.

(Also, I don't give a shit about cursing, but I have no idea what value it brings to Star Trek. Yeah, that's how real people talk, but real people don't zip around the galaxy in space ships and eat bowls of soup made out of holograms. Was there anyone on the fence about Star Trek, who thought, "Oh they say 'fuck' now. I should check it out." All the cursing really does is upset people who have strong feelings against that stuff. The cursing is dumb.)

[Amy H. Sturgis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best Star Trek novels I’ve read, and I’ve been reading Star Trek novels for forty years. If you like the Picard miniseries, this prequel will amplify that enjoyment. If you’ve been disappointed in the Picard miniseries, this prequel will solve some of your issues with it. And if you haven’t seen the Picard miniseries, read this first.

Una McCormack captures the voice of familiar characters beautifully and creates new characters I genuinely care about. She uses the fact the reader knows the tragic outcome of this train-wreck series of events before the narrative ever starts to great effect; the characters’ ignorance of what is coming makes their hopes and optimism and idealism all the more poignant. Those interested in Romulan culture will also find much to appreciate here.

This novel is startlingly, chillingly relevant, as well, in its depiction of a pending cataclysm and the political, cultural, and individual missteps that exacerbate its effects rather than ease them. This story hit me like a gut punch in the best possible way. Highly recommended.

[Tim Rideout · Rating 5 out of 5]

Star Trek has always been political. Like all art its purpose has always been political. In the 1960s Star Trek presented us with a future to which we could aspire. In the 2020s Star Trek: Picard presents us with our present made manifest as a darker future.

And it is superb. Unsettling, elegiac, mournful and superb.

Una McCormak’s novel is the perfect prequel and it is drenched in politics. The climate catastrophe, Brexit, the refugee crisis, populism, post-truth - all are present, wrapped up in a heartbreaking story of endeavour and ultimate failure.

And that heartbreaking, universal story is also that of one, old man. McCormack’s novel is all of the above. But it’s also the story of one old man, coming to terms with loss and his own mortality.

All art is political. All art is also personal. This is a superb novel.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the backstory of the Romulan relief effort, the synths, and the day it all went horribly wrong.
It is also the story of political strife, compassion vs practicality, and ethics being thrown under the bus. And struggling for what is right vs what is easy.
And losing.
There are also some interesting hints I can only assume are going to be played out on my TV in the coming weeks.
We shall see.

[Paul (Life In The Slow Lane) · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's logistical, Captain.
Spock. Well...almost.

If you saw the brilliant Star Trek: Picard series, then this is the prequel to that and will make sense of the first few episodes. Una McCormack's writing is impeccable, elegant and brilliant. Some mainstream readers of contemporary books would say her skills are wasted on SciFi books. I say, "Ptosh!" Or the Aussie equivalent of that. My swear jar is full so, no naughty words from me.

The story is basically about logistics with some politics, intrigue and diplomacy thrown in. Now if you're thinking, "Geez, I'd rather be slapped in the piehole with a stinky mullet", you'd be wrong. It IS actually interesting ... mostly. I only fell asleep once, and that was probably because I was a little shickered. While the plot could be considered dry, McCormack manages to create enough tension to keep you going, and she makes the characters interesting and loveable, or hatable (is that a word?).

Before you reach for the "buy" button on that online bookshop, I must say, it helps if you have some Star Trek experience; at least Star Trek: The Second Generation. You don't have to be one of those weirdos running around with pointy ears and saying, "Live long and prosper." Or is it, "Love long and perspire"? Anyway, after you read it, go have a look at Star Trek: Picard - the TV series.

Wonderful writing makes this worthwhile.

[Bon Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Consider this a mandatory reading if you intend to watch the TV series.
It totally explains the whole context, pretext and other text. So you don't
feel like you skip the whole season of the series somehow and now you need
to connect the dots, which are not there.

With or without the show, the book is great. It always amazes me how do
these Start Trek authors do it. Rarely, if ever, do they miss the target. I know
they must have been pre-selected for these franchise writings, but still...
It's just incredible how perfectly do they capture the essence of Star Trek, its
characters, narratives, everything.

Amazing job here.

Also 5 stars for the narrator, Robert Petkoff. One of the best in business if you ask me.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Last Best Hope is a thoughtful and mature examination of the events leading into the first season of Star Trek: Picard. Una McCormack is one of my favorite Trek authors, and the perfect choice to capture the political climate and the personal struggles of Picard in this period. I loved the answers to lingering questions that arose from the first season, and while reading this novel isn't necessary to enjoy and fully appreciate that season of Picard, the novel works very well as a supplement and is a terrific read for hardcore Trek fans, as well as those who might be wanting just a little more insight into the events of Picard.

Full review: https://www.treklit.com/2024/01/the-last-best-hope.html

[Ascari Vau · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 Sterne. Habe mir hier doch ein wenig mehr erwartet ...

Die Figuren trifft die Autorin sehr gut, aber der recht episoden-hafte Erzählstil führt auch dazu, dass die Spannung das ganze Buch durch auf- und abgeht.

Als Ergänzung zur Serie ist die Geschichte durchaus interessant zu lesen, es werden außerdem einige Fragen beantwortet, auf die die Serie kaum oder wenig eingegangen ist. Für Picard-Fans daher empfehlenswert, wenn man wissen will, was mit ihm seit dem Ende des letzten TNG-Films passiert ist :).

[Chris Townsend · Rating 2 out of 5]

To review this book, first, I must comment on the show upon which it's based. I was fortunate enough to know the primary negative elements of Picard season 1 prior to watching; those elements being, namely, the complete character assassination of Picard, the fact the show's writers allowed their disquiet with contemporary politics to intentionally ruin Star Trek's ideal vision of the future, and of course that Picard dies and becomes an android. Knowing the negative ahead of time allowed me to take in the show without getting upset, and I was able to, more or less, enjoy it.

Since I was interested, the existence of this book providing backstory intrigued me. The reviews were positive, and lots of people were saying it was better than the show. Encouraged, I read it. Did it live up to the praise? Mostly, no.

The book's primary problem is that very little happens within the narration. The story starts with Picard still on the Enterprise and ends with his retirement. The story provides a sweeping summary of a great many events without slowing down to narrate very much of it. It reads like a history book with short snippets of story here and there. Worse, we don't really learn much of anything new that wasn't summarized in the show. Worst of all, most of the book was blisteringly dull. Most of the first 200 or 220 pages were concerned with internal Federation politics. It took me weeks to get through those pages cause I could only stand to read a few pages per day. The last 100 pages or so were much more interesting, and I read through them quickly.

Overall, this is not a story I can recommend unless you enjoyed Picard season 1 and really want to experience some of the backstory. I don't regret reading it, because it does create a clear timeline, but it wasn't particularly enjoyable.

2/5

[reherrma · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.8| Dieser Band erzählt die Vorgeschichte der neuen Star Trek-Serie: Picard, dieses Review setzt die Kenntnis der Amazon-Serie voraus. Sie beginnt mit der Nachricht, dass die romulanische Sonne sich zur Supernova entwickeln wird, als Jean Luc Picard, der Captain der Enterprise, dies im Sternenflottenhauptquartier erfährt, beschließt er spontan, alles zu tun um zu helfen. Er wird zum Admiral und zum Leiter der Hilfsflotte, die die romulanische Bevölkerung im Explosionsradius umsiedeln soll, befördert. Das Kommando über die Enterprise wird an Worf übertragen und danach in eine entfernte Region der Galaxis geschickt, da die Enterprise für die Romulaner ein rotes Tuch ist. Es gibt allerdings zu wenig Raumschiffe und zu wenig Personal, um diese gigantische Aufgabe zu bewältigen. Unter der Führung von Admiral Picard, unterstützt von einem Büro der Sternenflotte beginnt eine Rettungsmission, wie sie es noch nie gegeben hatte. Picard setzt mit Geordi LaForge seinen Vertrauten als Chef der größten Flottenwerft der Förderation ein, die Utopia-Planitia-Flottenwerft auf dem Mars. Mit viel Überzeugungsarbeit und mit etwas Druck überzeugt LaForge die Mitarbeiter der Flottenwerft um nur noch ausschließlich Schiffe für die romulanischen Flüchtlinge zu bauen, schließlich werden durch diese einseitige Ausrichtung ganze Karrieren und viele wichtige Projekte auf Eis gelegt. Das Problem ist auch, dass für diese Aufgabe, viel zu wenige Arbeitskräfte zur Verfügung stehen, deshalb wird das Daystrom-Institut von Okinawa, Erde beauftragt, nicht empfindungsfähige Androiden herzustellen, um als einfache Arbeiter auf der Flottenwerft zu dienen. Während diesen beispiellosen Tätigkeiten auf Mars und Erde übernimmt Picard mit seiner neuen Vertrauten, Raffi Musiker, auf seinem Flaggschiff VERITY, mit einer Flüchtlingsflotte die ersten Evakuierungen, allerdings stellt sich ganz schnell heraus, dass die Romulaner nicht gerade begeistert sind, von der Sternenflotte gerettet zu werden, auch ist die Informationspolitik der romulanischen Regierung sehr schlecht, die einfachen Leute sind über die Auswirkungen der Supernova schlecht informiert und empfinden die Evakuierung als Invasion der Förderation, geschürt wird die Antipathie insbesondere durch den romulanischen Geheimdienst, dem Tal Shiar. Gleichzeitig stellt eine Astronomin auf der Erde fest, dass die Berechnungen der Romulanischen Wissenschaftler über die Auswirkung der Supernova falsch sind, die Auswirkungen sind weit größer und der Explosionsradius schließt weitere Sternsysteme mit ein. Dieser Bericht wird von der Romulanischen Regierung aufs heftigste bestritten und bekämpft, eine Zusammenarbeit der Wissenschaftler wird vom Tal Shiar verhindert und ein romulanischer Wissenschaftler, der diese neue Situation bestätigen kann, wird inhaftiert und gefoltert. Picard erkennt, dass die Anstrengungen noch weiter erhöht werden muss und forciert die Arbeiten auf dem Mars und im Daystrom-Institut, wo der Wissenschaftler Bruce Maddox nur schwer zu überzeugen ist, er forscht immer noch heimlich an seinem Traum, einen Androiden vom Data-Typ herzustellen, obwohl ihm das strikt untersagt wurde, er solle sich auf die Arbeiten mit den nicht-empfindungsfähigen Androiden konzentrieren. Gleichzeitig versucht eine Lokal-Politikerin im Förderationsrat Stimmung gegen die Flüchtlingshilfe zu machen, sie schürt ein Bündnis von kleineren Welten dagegen und fordern das Geld lieber für die armen Welten innerhalb der Förderation auszugeben und nicht den Feinden (die Romulanern) zukommen zu lassen, es wird mit Sessezion gedroht. Verschärft wird die Situation noch, weil Picard aus einer Notsituation heraus ein Flüchtlingstransport außerhalb der neutralen Zone auf einem Planeten im Förderationsraum gebracht hatt. Dies sorgt für Aufruhr innerhalb der Förderation, als auch bei der romulanischen Regierung, so dass Picard einen romulanischen Tal Shiar-Aufpasser auf der Verity aktzepieren musste. Als der Tal Shiar auf einer Flüchtlingswelt ein Massaker verursacht, kommt es zu einem Bruch innerhalb Picards Unterstützern, nur noch Raffi hält zu ihm.
Der Anschlag der Androiden auf der Utopia-Planita-Werft auf dem Mars führte schließlich zur Beendigung der Flüchtlingshilfe und Picards Demission von der Sternenflotte, zu sehen in der TV-Streamingserie...
Dieser Roman liest sich wie ein Rückblick auf die europäische Flüchtlingskrise und stellt m.E. einen Wendepunkt bei Star Trek dar, Picard wird zu Beginn als einer der bekanntesten und beliebtesten Figuren der Förderation geschildert, durch die Flüchtlingskrise und sein hartnäckiger Altruismus wird er von politischen Demagogen von allen Seiten verleumdet, auch mit Fake News und anderen bekannten Mitteln wird er schließlich zu Rücktritt gezwungen, der Weg dahin wird in diesem Buch aufs eindringlichste geschildert. Una McCormack hat der (hervorragenden) Serie mit dieser Vorgeschichte etwas sehr wertvollen beigefügt, es ist eine wichtige Ergänzung die viele Dinge klarer macht. Leider hat dieses Buch, wie auch die Serie, dazu geführt, dass die hervorragenden Romane der Post-Nemesis Ära ins Nicht-Kanonische geschoben wurde, und das hat für mich zur Aberkennung des 5. Sterns geführt. Dabei wäre es einfach gewesen, diese Serie im Kanon zu belassen, man hätte nur einige wenige Dinge anders erzählen sollen. z.B. ist in der Literatur, J.L.Picard mit Beverly Crusher verheiratet und hat ein Kind mit ihr, die Borgs sind Geschichte und die Romulaner sind im Typhon-Pact verankert. Die Romulaner im Buch wie in der Serie haben sich nicht weiterentwickelt von den TV-Serien wie TOS, TNG oder DS9, in den Büchern haben sie einige wichtige Entwicklungen hinter sich, die sie als Spezies haben wachsen lassen. Aber das Buch ist unbedingt lesenswert und wer noch nie ein Star-Trek-Buch gelesen hat; hier ist es !

[Matthew Rushing · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

The book does fill in a lot of details the series has not yet, but the biggest lingering issue is how this fits with what we know from Star Trek '09. That still does not make sense to me at all.

[Nils · Rating 4 out of 5]

Flott zu lesende Vorgeschichte der aktuellen Star Trek: Picard Serie. Das Buch hilft, die Hintergründe der Serie besser zu verstehen, wirkt aber sehr stark wie eine "nullte Staffel" und weniger wie ein eigenständiger Roman.

[Andreas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Die Amazon Prime-Serie um den ehemaligen Star Trek Enterprise-Kapitän Jean-Luc Picard verwirrte mich anfangs. Da kam diese Vorgeschichte in Buchform wie gerufen, denn sie erzählt, wie Picard die größte Rettungsmission aller Zeiten leitete: 900 Millionen Romulaner mussten aus ihrem Heimatsystem und den umliegenden Sternsystemen auf sichere Planeten umgesiedelt werden, da sich ihr Stern in Kürze zu einer Supernova entwickelt. Warum hilft man einem Feind? Wie viel kann man selbst entbehren? Picard selbst meint dazu: Alles geben, weil es gilt, Leben zu retten. Die logistischen und politischen Herausforderungen stellen das Rahmengerüst dar, in dem sich Picard ganz als Mann der Tat einfügt. Heroische Einzelaktionen finden sich hier nur selten.

Die Autorin zeigt sich als hervorragende Kennerin des Star Trek Universums und gewährt faszinierende Einblicke in die Alltagswelt der Romulaner. So changiert die Atmosphäre schnell zum Misstrauen und zur Intrige. Es gelingt nicht nur die Einbettung in die Vergangenheit, sondern die neue Serie knüpft auch nahtlos an das Buch an, so dass sich meine Verwirrung beim Serienstart löste. In einigen Schlüsselszenen ist der Roman redundant zur Serie. Zum Erscheinungszeitpunkt waren bereits zwei Folgen gelaufen und wer da bereits die Filme gesehen hatte, nahm sich etwas Spannung im Buch weg. Picards Ton wie auch der der anderen bekannten Protagonisten wie Geordi La Forge oder Raffi wird in der Erzählung punktgenau getroffen.

Schwierig empfinde ich dagegen die Motivation und das Vorgehen in den einzelnen Handlungssträngen. Um nur ein Beispiel anzuführen, kann ich mir nicht vorstellen, wieso Androiden in der Raumschiffproduktion bei speziellen Teilen nötig sein sollten; es handelt sich schließlich nicht um eine Manufaktur, sondern um industrielle Produktion, die Roboter genausogut erledigen könnten. Und wenn schon Androiden, dann erschließt sich mir der Sinn für Köpfe und menschliche Körper nicht. Möglicherweise ist dies eine generelle Kritik an der Serie, die man diesem Buch im speziellen nicht vorwerfen sollte. Andere Fragen wie beispielsweise nach den Ursachen für die Supernova waren wohl der Serie selbst vorbehalten.

Wer also bereit ist, solche Bedenken über Bord zu werfen und sich in den tollen Star Trek Kosmos hineinziehen lässt, der findet in diesem Buch eine ordentliche Dosis Picard und insgesamt eine sehr flüssig lesbare, nicht übermässig komplexe Geschichte, die ich gerne jedem Trekkie empfehle. Abzüge gab es nicht nur wegen der angesprochenen Logikprobleme, sondern auch wegen der fehlenden Spannung. 3.5 Sterne, abgerundet.

[Yvonne (go.for.a.walk.chuma) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ☆ Gute, kurzweilige Unterhaltung. Super Sprecherleistung beim Hörbuch.

[Unseen Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating of 4.5.

Get ready to dive back into the Star Trek universe with Picard: The Last Best Hope by Una McCormack, the latest Star Trek novel which ties into the events of the Picard television show. The Last Best Hope is an outstanding novel that serves as a bridge between Star Trek: The Next Generation show and the current Picard series.

Nearly 20 years before the events of Picard, both the United Federation of Planets and the Romulan Star Empire faced an unprecedented calamity. Scientists have just discovered that the Romulan sun is in the process of going supernova, turning into a destructive force that will devastate the Romulan home system and have significant negative follow-on effects on the remaining planets within Romulan Space. In order to ensure the evacuation of their people, the Romulans grudgingly request aid from the Federation, who assign Jean-Luc Picard to the mission.

Picard, promoted to the rank of admiral, quickly finds himself in charge of the largest and most difficult operation in Starfleet history. The evacuation mission is a vast undertaking, requiring Starfleet to relocate hundreds of millions of Romulans to distant planets in only a few short years. Lacking resources and manpower, Picard begins the evacuation process as best he can, with the invaluable help of his new first officer, Rafaella “Raffi” Muskier. Meanwhile, back in the Federation, Geordi La Forge attempts to come up with new ways to increase Starfleet ship production on Mars. The best solution is the creation of a new, synthetic workforce, and La Forge calls in an old colleague, the brilliant scientist Bruce Maddox, who reluctantly halts his lifelong work on artificial life to help build these new synthetics.

As the evacuation progresses, Picard takes solace in every small victory his team can achieve, but this mission seems doomed to fail. Debates from ambitious Federation politicians, distrust and fear from the Romulans they are trying to help, and interference from the Tal Shiar, the Romulan secret police, all hinder the mission. However, Picard is not one to give up easily and is determined to save every Romulan he can from the impending disaster. But even the great Jean-Luc Picard is unprepared for how his mission will end. Everything is about to change, and Picard and the galaxy will never be the same again.

To see the full review, click the link below:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2020/03/04/...

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[Kaya Kobold · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gefiel mir besser als die Serie.

Punktabzug, weil ich nie wusste, wieviel Zeit zwischen den Ereignissen vergangen war.
Dass die Marsgeschichte nicht aufgeklärt wurde... Ich hoffe, das macht die Serie irgendwann.

Happy stay at home bevor die Sonne nie mehr untergeht